Bochum Observatory
Encyclopedia
Bochum Observatory, often known in Bochum as Cape Kaminski is a research institute
in Bochum
, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
. The institution came into being through a private initiative. Its main areas of interest are in Radio Astronomy
and Environmental Research
.
founded Bochum Observatory as a popular observatory of the local Volkshochschule. Since 1957 and the launch of the first artificial satellite – Sputnik 1, whose signal was detected in Bochum – this developed into the Institute for Space Research / Observatory Bochum.
It was renamed in 1982 as the Institute for Environment- and Future Research [Institut für Umwelt- und Zukunftsforschung (IUZ)]. Included among its new tasks are involvement with sociological und global ecological themes. It is a recognized and supported further education institution of the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen. Its educational work is aided by the Landeszentrale for Political Education of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Employment of the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen.
In 1999, Professor Heinz Kaminski nominated Thilo Elsner as his successor. Thilo Elsner has been at the Observatory since February 1995 and has contributed significantly to the maintenance and reconstruction of the attached Radom. The radar dome
, which is supported by internal pressure, collapsed in October 1999 due to a large rip in the polyester skin. Heinz Kaminski died in 2002.
In 2007, the observatory celebrated its 60th anniversary.
In March 2009, the observatory detected signals from the Planet Venus
with its 20m parabola antenna. This was the first time that anyone in Western Europe had succeeded in locating the echo from another planet. As a result the American Space Agency NASA
has offered its assistance and in future will be sending relevant data to Bochum.
for receiving data from geostationary and orbiting satellite
s and interplanetary space craft. The development of astronomical topics as well as environmental themes and the study of its associated effects on society is promoted and made accessible to the public at large. This latter task is carried out with the help of a "Mobile Observatory", which consists among things of a high-precision satellite receiver. Recognized as working for the community, the Institute has worked since 1990 for the people of the Ruhr area as an institution for political education in the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen.
The IUZ's largest structure is the Radome
(radar dome). This has a 40 meter high dome, supported by excess pressure from inside, which protects a 20 m parabola dish from the weather. The dish has a total weight of over 220 tonnes and can both receive and send data. As a result of a complete upgrading, the installation has an accuracy of about 1/1000 of a degree in positioning and is thus being prepared for the planned Mars mission AMSAT
P5A, which will be partly navigated by the IUZ Bochum. Otherwise there is 1000 square meters of exhibition space and a lecture room for 160 people.
"The People's Observatory Bochum", one of the few institutions capable of receiving the first signals from Sputnik, became an important place in West Germany for the latest news and information about space. A special exhibition has been put on show in this historic location in space history, with numerous exhibits gathered from the whole of Deutschland documenting the instrumentation of space travel.“
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The institution came into being through a private initiative. Its main areas of interest are in Radio Astronomy
Radio astronomy
Radio astronomy is a subfield of astronomy that studies celestial objects at radio frequencies. The initial detection of radio waves from an astronomical object was made in the 1930s, when Karl Jansky observed radiation coming from the Milky Way. Subsequent observations have identified a number of...
and Environmental Research
Environmental Research
Environmental Research is a peer-reviewed environmental science journal published by Elsevier. The editor in chief is Ellen Silbergeld....
.
History and Accomplishments
In 1946, Professor Heinz KaminskiHeinz Kaminski
Heinz Kaminski was a German chemical engineer and space researcher.On 5 October 1957, Kaminski received signals in Bochum from the Sputnik satellite, the first person outside of the Soviet area of influence to do so. Heinz Kaminski founded and later directed the Bochum Observatory...
founded Bochum Observatory as a popular observatory of the local Volkshochschule. Since 1957 and the launch of the first artificial satellite – Sputnik 1, whose signal was detected in Bochum – this developed into the Institute for Space Research / Observatory Bochum.
It was renamed in 1982 as the Institute for Environment- and Future Research [Institut für Umwelt- und Zukunftsforschung (IUZ)]. Included among its new tasks are involvement with sociological und global ecological themes. It is a recognized and supported further education institution of the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen. Its educational work is aided by the Landeszentrale for Political Education of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Employment of the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen.
In 1999, Professor Heinz Kaminski nominated Thilo Elsner as his successor. Thilo Elsner has been at the Observatory since February 1995 and has contributed significantly to the maintenance and reconstruction of the attached Radom. The radar dome
Radome
A radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a microwave or radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna. In other words, the radome is transparent to radar or radio waves...
, which is supported by internal pressure, collapsed in October 1999 due to a large rip in the polyester skin. Heinz Kaminski died in 2002.
In 2007, the observatory celebrated its 60th anniversary.
In March 2009, the observatory detected signals from the Planet Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
with its 20m parabola antenna. This was the first time that anyone in Western Europe had succeeded in locating the echo from another planet. As a result the American Space Agency NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
has offered its assistance and in future will be sending relevant data to Bochum.
Equipment
The Institute today owns several antenna systemsAntenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
for receiving data from geostationary and orbiting satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s and interplanetary space craft. The development of astronomical topics as well as environmental themes and the study of its associated effects on society is promoted and made accessible to the public at large. This latter task is carried out with the help of a "Mobile Observatory", which consists among things of a high-precision satellite receiver. Recognized as working for the community, the Institute has worked since 1990 for the people of the Ruhr area as an institution for political education in the Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen.
The IUZ's largest structure is the Radome
Radome
A radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a microwave or radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna. In other words, the radome is transparent to radar or radio waves...
(radar dome). This has a 40 meter high dome, supported by excess pressure from inside, which protects a 20 m parabola dish from the weather. The dish has a total weight of over 220 tonnes and can both receive and send data. As a result of a complete upgrading, the installation has an accuracy of about 1/1000 of a degree in positioning and is thus being prepared for the planned Mars mission AMSAT
AMSAT
AMSAT is a name for amateur radio satellite organizations worldwide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation with headquarters at Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington DC. AMSAT organizations design, build, arrange launches for, and then operate satellites carrying amateur...
P5A, which will be partly navigated by the IUZ Bochum. Otherwise there is 1000 square meters of exhibition space and a lecture room for 160 people.
Long-Term Exhibition
Cosmos, Communism, Cold War – Sputnik 50: The History of Space Travel in Two Political Systems is the exhibition in the Radom of Bochum Observatory, supported by the "Federal Foundation for Studying the SED-Dictatorship". It documents the events of the Space Race from the first detection of the Sputnik signal in 1957 up to the present day."The People's Observatory Bochum", one of the few institutions capable of receiving the first signals from Sputnik, became an important place in West Germany for the latest news and information about space. A special exhibition has been put on show in this historic location in space history, with numerous exhibits gathered from the whole of Deutschland documenting the instrumentation of space travel.“
External links
- Website of Bochum Observatory
- Sputnik 50: The History of Space Travel in Two Political Systems: Exhibition in Bochum Observatory
- RuhrNachrichten (RN) from 27th. March 2009: „Bochum Observatory receives signals from Venus“ - Bochum on the international stage again reporting back on space observation called up on March 2009